Lotoshino Fishponds
Another of Moscow region's top sites.
Species
During migration the ponds attract a wide variety of water birds rare for Moscow region, among them Great White Egret, Cormorant, Bewick Swan, Long-tailed Duck, Great Black-headed Gull, Whimbrel, Turnstone and Curlew Sandpiper among others. Migrant raptors include Osprey, Peregrine and Merlin. Interesting breeding species to be found here are Bittern, White Stork, Mute Swans, Greater Spotted Eagle, Grey Woodpecker, Penduline Tit and Great Reed Warbler. White-tailed Eagle are present on the ponds year-round.
Access
Public transport -2.5 hours by local train from Rizhskyi Vokzal as far as Volokolamsk, followed by bus no. 30 (Volokolamsk-Osheikino) as far as Rybkhoz Lotoshino, which leaves from the town's bus station, a full 5km from the train station by town bus! There is a daily bus from Tushinskaya metro station which goes past the ponds, but the timing is inconvenient.
By car — Drive along Novorizhskoe shosse as far as Volokolamsk, where you turn off the shosse to the right and drive through the town towards Kashino. At the t-junction at Maslennikovo turn left and soon, before entering Suvorovo, turn right at the sign for Osheikino. The turn-off for the fishponds is on the right after 9km.
подготовили Константин Ковалёв, Сергей Елисеев
фотографии Константина Ковалёва, Павла Пархаева, Сергея Елисеева